Posts in “Beauty”

Ever since I was in college, I was always interested in makeup. I would even help out my friends, family, and relatives with their questions about makeup. I would also get messages from people with questions like: what foundation is good for their skin type and skin tone, how to apply eyebrow makeup, how to lessen the oiliness on their makeup, how to achieve a certain kind of makeup look, and what makeup I wear and what I would recommend for their needs.

Today, I’m excited to share with you that I have joined Beautycounter as a consultant to continue helping out others with their makeup and skincare needs. I’m looking forward to taking part in their mission, to get safer products into the hands of everyone. The safe ingredients are not the only reason why I became a part of Beautycounter. I joined them because I love how their products improve my skin and makes it feel clean. I’m also thankful that I am able to become a part of this movement while I’m still a stay-at-home mom with three boys. Using their products, I feel safe kissing my kids, especially my newborn. This is because Beautycounter’s products give me peace of mind. I know that the makeup I’m putting on my face has safer ingredients, strictly screened by Beautycounter. Skincare and makeup products that are effective and safe like these are worth investing in. Plus, they last longer too. Beautycounter has avoided the use over 1,500 harmful and questionable ingredients in their products, to make sure that they don’t have links to cancer or any other harmful effects. It amazes me how the people who work here, are very devoted in making sure that they only promote products that are non-toxic and safe for the whole family.

(product photos by Anna Liesemeyer)

Here are some of Beautycounter’s most popular products for makeup and skincare.

I’m here to help if you need color matching suggestions, product questions, or need my advice on how to apply Beautycounter products such as makeup… I’d love to help! You may email me directly at smith.inquiries@gmail.com or you can shop at my personal website: www.beautycounter.com/emsmith

It’s finally here! As promised, here’s my other giveaway celebrating Hello Island Mama’s first birthday! I’m excited to partner again with ShkadoodleNoodle to give away summer goodies to one lucky winner! How to enter:

This shop/post has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company; all opinions are mine alone. #ColorMeHydrated #CollectiveBias

I have a fun and fresh-looking makeup tutorial today a look for a clean summer look. I’m sharing my favorite makeup techniques and tips to achieve glowing skin, and to keep you feeling fresh and hydrated. Summer in Texas is getting seriously hot, so I have to keep myself well-hydrated. I make sure to drink plenty of fluids for my skin and body. I was inspired to create this fresh makeup look by vitaminwater, which I found at Target. Drinking a refreshing bottle helps keep me hydrated. It tastes great and is perfect for busy lifestyles like mine. Staying hydrated is one of the most important ways to get glowing skin and to achieve a fresh makeup look. Scroll down for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create this look!

1 ) After washing your face and moisturizing, use a tinted moisturizer and apply to your face with your fingers.

2 ) I opt for liquid concealer to even out the dark circles and red spots around my nose. Use a dampened sponge to even out and blend the application well.

3 ) To fill in the brows, use a retractable brow pencil and a brow brush. Blur the edges and lines.

4) Use less powder on specific areas, like under the eyes and around the nose (if you have oily skin in this area), to set the concealer. I like to keep the other areas of my face free from powder so that it looks natural, healthy, and radiant.

5 ) I love using a liquid type of blush. Pat it down on your cheeks, using your fingers to blend. You may also use a cream blush or even lipstick with a creamy texture.

6 ) For this look I prefer a simple style without eyeshadow. This allows you to pat powder on your eyelids for a clean look and matte finish.

7 ) Curl lashes to the side and immediately apply mascara to lock the curls. Do the same for the other eye.

8 ) Apply your favorite lipstick. I’m using pink tone for this look, which is inspired by kiwi-strawberry vitaminwater.

9 ) Finally, use a bronzer to dust around your face and neck.

Makeup tip: Use a spray bottle of water or facial mist spray on a rounded highlighter blush before applying highlighter powder. This makes it stand better, but keeps it looking natural (not flaky or powdery) on the skin. I love using this technique for myself and for my makeup clients.

Highlight upper cheekbones, bridge of the nose, chin area and tear ducts using a small brush or your pinky finger.

Have you tried “Shelf-Selfie”? I did! Get 15% off when you buy vitaminwater, by simply following the instructions below:

1) Visit your local Target.

2) Snap a Shelf-Selfie (selfie in front of the vitaminwater shelf).

3) Text your image to 89000 to receive the hidden Cartwheel offer link for 15% off a 20 oz bottle of vitaminwater.

That’s it! Easy and simple

vitaminwater offers a great variety of flavors. Check out other inspiring postson how vitaminwater fits their lifestyles for the summer.

How do you keep yourself looking fresh and hydrated from the inside out?

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CreateYourSunshine #WetSkinIsBestSkin #CollectiveBias

It’s the month of June! That means it’s time to get ready for a glowing tan for summer! Some of you might have gone to the beach or pool already to get a tan, but today, I’ll be sharing one of the easiest, most affordable new ways I have found to achieve a summer glow without exposing my skin to the heat of the sun (or even the tanning bed!). As some of you know, I’m originally from the Philippines and I have always felt proud of my skin, even though when I was young some people told me that white skin was more beautiful. I love having tan skin because I feel more confident, especially since I have imperfections like varicose veins which become more visible when I’m pregnant. That’s why I’m glad to have found JERGENS® Natural Glow® Wet Skin® Moisturizer. I applied it to my wet skin right after a shower, and it gradually turned into a natural-looking tan in just a few days! You don’t even need to rinse it off – you can just dampen your skin with towel to dry off and it will NOT stain your towel.

One thing I love doing with a summer tan is creating summer looks, like a glowing, bronzy makeup look. I also get excited to dress up and style some summer outfits as well. These looks and outfits make me feel like I just came back from a long vacation in my hometown in the Philippines! 😉 By the way, here’s a childhood photo of me when I was in the Philippines inside my grandma’s nipa hut house.

Over the next three days after applying the lotion, I watched as it gradually gave me a healthy, glowing summer tan. At the same time, it moisturized my skin, which is extra important to me right now as my skin gets drier when I am pregnant. I used the medium shade JERGENS Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer from Walmart to achieve the ideal color that I wanted, and I now use it every other day to maintain the color.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I was clueless in terms of what pregnancy essentials were. If you are a first-time mom, I’m sure you’re also wondering what you actually need for yourself, aside from prenatal vitamins. Today, I’m sharing the things that helped me feel comfortable and relaxed during my past and current pregnancies.

Stretch marks…. I still have stretchmarks from my past pregnancies, most are from my first one. I wasn’t consistent with moisturizing my belly then. I regret it now due to the stretch marks that appeared after my pregnancy. If you have tan skin like mine, you may experience darker stretchmarks like I did. Mine were actually almost black from my first pregnancy. Although, it eventually will lighten after a year or so. That’s why, this time, I’m using this Bio Oil to prevent darker stretch marks around my belly. I really like it, especially the smell! I use this in the morning and before I go to bed at night. One of my sister-in-laws used the Bio Oil when she was pregnant, and she loved the oil too!

My former boss gave me a pregnancy pillow that truly helps me to sleep better at night. You might hear that the best sleeping position for pregnant women is laying on her left side. The pregnancy pillow that I have has a big C-shape design, supporting my back and can be placed between my legs as well. Before I used this pillow, I experienced leg cramps at night a lot. However, now that I use it, I find it really helps me to sleep better and greatly reduces aches and pain. Although, My husband can’t wait for me to be done using this pillow. He says it’s taking up a lot of space in the bed. Haha!

When I’m pregnant, my feet and legs get tired easily, especially when I’m standing for a period of time (I get more varicose veins during pregnancy). I love to use comfy shoes (I use these shoes from this style post) for outdoor errands with the kids. I think it’s easier to move around if you are comfortable with what you’re wearing on your feet. When you’re pregnant you also have to remember that you’re carrying extra weight from your baby bump.

Comfy Bras

Pregnancy will cause a lot of changes to your body. This includes changes in clothing sizes and your underwear. I avoid bras with underwire because it’s not comfortable to wear underneath my clothes. I love to use a bra that has a good fit, gives a good support, and is comfortable; something I have is similar to this. I also like to use strapless, tube top bras (or bandeau bra).

Water

Keeping yourself hydrated during your pregnancy is very important for you and your baby. It can make you have to go to the bathroom often, but it really helps your body stay strong and healthy. During my first trimester, it was hard for me to drink water since I was nauseated and vomiting. What I do to help with the nausea, is add flavor droplets to my water. I also don’t forget to bring a water bottle whenever I go out. I currently love to use a similar bottlewhich I keep inside my bag.

Snack

In addition to water, I love to bring snacks. Being pregnant makes me feel hungry all the time. I think this little boy I’m carrying eats a lot, like his brothers… My favorites snacks to bring include granola bars and animal crackers. 😉

Lastly, I don’t want to forget to mention this amazing exercise ball. I love to use this while working on my work desk while pregnant. It’s more comfortable on my belly to sit on a big bouncy ball compared to a normal chair. This exercise ball was actually such a big help for when I went into labor. There’s a rocking technique I used (check it out online. Search for “Birthing ball”), which really helped. Another cool thing about using this ball, is that I can use it after I give birth. When my newborn is fussy or crying (even if he’s been changed and fed), I’m sure I’ll be able to calm him down while sitting on it. When my other two kids were babies, they loved it when I sit here. I think it’s because it gives a gentle bouncing motion, helping them fall asleep.

(A good friend of mine lent me this top. I’ve been using this a lot, especially this season. Here’s are some similar items to my outfit that you can check out online: TOP, HAT, MATERNITY PANTS )Is anyone else expecting this year too? What are your pregnancy essentials?

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a hair tutorial on my blog (my other hair tutorials are here and here). Today’s post showcases my absolute favorite hairstyle, which I’ve been using all the time since becoming a mom. You have may noticed that I love using this hairstyle often. I think it’s perfect for thick and long hair, like mine. It helps keep my hair in place and looks pretty with an outfit, or even for a normal day at home with the kids. Here’s what I used:

2 Begin by gathering a small section of your hair on the top right side.

3 Divide the hair into 3 even sections. Then, start to braid without pulling any hair.

4 Add more hair by pulling on the right side before crossing underneath the middle section of hair.

5 Next, do the other side. Add more hair from the left side before crossing it underneath the middle section of hair.

6 Continue repeating #4 and #5 until there is no hair to gather and combine to the braid. Continue to braid until you reach the end. Secure it with hair elastics. You can also use hairpins on the left side to secure the hair, if you have short layers like mine.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyRadiantLook #CollectiveBias

As Spring has begun, I’ve been enjoying the sunny weather every day. I’ve been loving spending time with my kids, whether it’s indoor or outdoor. But being a stay-at-home mom, I also love taking a few minutes in the bathroom for myself to freshen up, do something to make me feel good, and get ready for a busy day with my kids. For today’s post, I’m excited to team up with Colgate® and their new Colgate® Optic White® RADIANT™ Toothpaste as part of my everyday routine to bring out confidence at the start of each day. I always believe that the best accessory is a smile that can create a great impact not only for ourselves but also for others – including our kids. It can lead to positive thinking and can cheer up an otherwise dull day. Here are some easy steps you can try to get some confidence!

FRESHEN UP TO SMILE

Before I start putting makeup on, I always make sure that I have clean teeth for a great smile on my face. I recently discovered Colgate® Optic White® RADIANT™ Toothpaste,a new product in Kroger which helps to boost my confidence every day. The best part is that it is safe to use to whiten inside and out. I love to smile (and most especially to laugh) with my kids, especially when taking selfies with them 😉 I think confidence starts from a great smile with white teeth!

SIMPLE GLOW

Simple makeup can make big difference throughout the day, whether you want to focus on brows, covering your dark circles or trying a new lip color. Makeup surely brings out some confidence. As a mom with small kids, I like to do a simple application focusing on areas I like to enhance for me to feel awake and confident. After I wash my face and moisturize, I like to use eyebrow pencil, liquid concealer to cover dark circles, mascara, a highlighter, blush, and swipe on some lip color. I like coral tone this Spring!

EASY HAIRSTYLE

Creating a simple hairstyle is also a perfect way to add a cheerful look for Springtime, whether it’s a bun, braid or if you just want to have your hair up. I either do a side braid or half braid if I want my hair to look “pretty” and to match my look for a day.

WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE

I love to wear lighter-colored outfits during Springtime. I think choosing a happy color and good style will make you feel great this season. It makes me smile and feel inspired when I see fellow mothers who take time for themselves to dress up, even if it’s just a simple style. Any mothers here who feel the same?

ACCESSORIZE

It’s hard for me to accessorize jewelry during Winter since I’m covered with a heavy jacket and too many layers (I don’t miss that season..) But it’s Spring now and I’m happy to finally get to use my jewelry to match my Spring outfits! I like to keep it simple and wear either a necklace or earrings just to add a bit of style to my outfit.

Don’t forget to check Colgate®’s page to learn about this new product to achieve radiant white teeth.

Any other beauty/ style routine or steps that you like to share to feel beautiful for Spring?

Since my kids are close in age and toddlers now, they play together well. I’m taking advantage of this by using the time to do a quick makeup application for myself. This application is something I do before we engage in an outdoor activity or even when we’re just at home. It’s a good way to wake me up and help me feel ready to chase my boys around. 😉 Here’s a step-by-step makeup tutorial, perfect for women who only have 5 minutes to spare for makeup. This is great for busy moms like me!

1 After I moisturize, I use a primer that has an illuminance glow finish on my face. I love it!

2 Using liquid concealer that comes with a wand, I apply it under my eyes and around my nose to even out these areas.

3 I usually use my fingers to blend my concealer, but I find using beauty blender (similar like this)a quicker way to blend liquid concealers. I love to spray my beauty blender with a bit of facial spray (water will work too), so that it’s easy to blend with the liquid product.

4 Right now, I like using an eyebrow pencil that comes with a brush tool on the end. This way, I can brush off and blur edges quickly.

5 I then apply blush onto my cheeks. I have recently been using a lip and cheek stain as my blush, which is easy to apply and blend using just your fingertips. I love how it stays on longer. Plus, it is made with all-natural ingredients like cherry fruit water which prevents fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

6 I use the same product for my cheeks for my lip color. I also like how the colors fit for springtime. I have dry lips, so I like to apply lip balm on top of it.

8 After that, I put highlighter powder on my upper cheeks and/or bridge of the nose. I use a technique where I spray a little bit of facial spray (or water) on the brush, before applying the highlighter powder on my skin. Check my post about this technique here.

9 (Optional) Apply a flesh-colored eyeliner on your waterline. This makes my eyes open up and helps me look less tired. Be sure you blend, so it won’t look patchy.

10 (Optional) Use a contour powder (which is 2 shades darker than your skintone) on the side of your nose and cheeks.

I’m excited to bring this Filipino makeup brand here to America. For you to experience the benefits of these products, I’m giving away St. Joan’s best sellers: 8-Hour Lip & Cheek Cream and 8-Hour Lip & Cheek Stain to 2 winners! Simply follow the instructions below to enter:

Follow me on Instagram @helloislandmama and @st.joancares

Like the image in Instagram where I posted about this giveaway

Tag a friend on the comment box. You are welcome tag more friends in seperate comment.

This giveaway is open to all residents in United States only. Contest ends on April 17, 2017. Winners will be contacted through Instagram.

Do you have any favorite products you like to use for quick makeup applications?

Hello Island Mama is a makeup, DIY, design, and lifestyle blog by Em Smith. She is the mother of two boys and a wife, who loves to inspire and encourage others through her works and stories. Originally from the Philippines.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

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Some posts have affiliate links that I can earn a profit or commission from. This occurs via the number of clicks and purchases through the link on my site. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies that allow me to continue devoting my passion and time into this blog.